Exploring a city digitally through a smartphone, the Zeigmal app is now the preferred choice over traditional city guides, transforming travel in Bruchsal.
In the picturesque town of Bruchsal, Germany, history and technology merge to bring the past to life through the Zeigmal app. This innovative tool, developed by a startup from Freiburg, offers a unique way to explore the city's rich heritage.
Bruchsal shares a fascinating connection with Brussels, both being home to units of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the past. The city's name, Bruchsal, is a testament to its historical significance. In the Middle Ages, there was a royal court in Bruchsal, and "Bruch" was another word for marsh, making Bruchsal mean "royal court in the marsh."
Before World War I, Bruchsal was a bustling hub of social and cultural life, with its numerous pubs, or "Gaststätten," serving as important gathering places for locals. Although detailed histories of Bruchsal’s pubs before WWI are not easily accessible, it is generally understood that these establishments played a crucial role in the community's interaction and the sharing of local traditions.
The Zeigmal app aims to bridge this gap by providing historical information about cities like Bruchsal in a digital format. By using Augmented Reality (AR), the app overlay historical information onto present-day views, allowing users to discover Bruchsal's historical stories, including those related to its pubs.
The Zeigmal app is a trial supplement introduced by Bruchsal's Tourism and Marketing (BTMV). Upon opening the app, it requests the user's location and access to the camera. As you walk through the city, digital elements are inserted into the real world, revealing historical sites and providing information about local history interactively.
Old photos of key locations such as Kaiserstraße, Paulusheim, Damianstor, Schlossgarten, Belvedere, and Hoheneggerplatz are available on the Zeigmal app, sourced from the Bruchsal city archive (Elisii). Upon pointing your smartphone at the Hoheneggerplatz, a historic view of the square appears on the screen.
The street layout in Hoheneggerplatz has largely been preserved since reconstruction. The tour can be continued by visiting the Friedrichsplatz, where an audio file can be listened to for additional information. City guide Ralf Freytag has recorded texts for the Zeigmal app, providing a personal touch to the historical narratives.
The Zeigmal app is free and can be downloaded via a smartphone's app store. In explorer mode, the city of Bruchsal can be explored independently, with a map displaying blue symbols indicating stations to visit. The app is currently available in around 50 cities in Baden-Württemberg, including Bruchsal, Bretten, and Eppingen.
Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about Bruchsal's past, the Zeigmal app offers a unique and engaging way to explore the city's rich history. For detailed historical accounts of Bruchsal’s pubs before World War I or specific functionalities of the Zeigmal app related to Bruchsal, I recommend checking local historical archives or the app’s official resources directly. Happy exploring!
The Zeigmal app, available for free download on smartphone app stores, provides a unique digital exploration of Bruchsal's rich history. By accessing the city archive, Elisii, users can view old photographs of key locations like Hoheneggerplatz, whose street layout has been preserved since reconstruction. In addition, the app offers insight into Bruchsal's past pubs, a crucial part of the community's interaction during the pre-World War I era, though detailed histories may be found in local historical archives. The Zeigmal app's innovative use of Augmented Reality technology in conjunction with city guide Ralf Freytag's personal narratives adds an engaging other lifestyle element to the exploration of Bruchsal's history, making it an intriguing option for both history enthusiasts and casual travelers alike.
